More Firefighters, Yes – but We Must Also Manage the Fuel: Our Letter in The Times
Why we wrote
On 9 October 2026, The Times reported that Phil Garrigan, Merseyside's chief fire officer, wants more firefighters and better equipment to meet a growing wildfire threat after a record-breaking summer. We agree. We wrote to add the other half of the answer: reducing the fuel that makes these fires so hard to fight. Our letter was published on Saturday 10th October.
Our letter
Sir, Phil Garrigan is right to call for more firefighters and equipment to tackle wildfire, but we also need to manage the vegetation that fuels these fires ("Fire chief: Act now to prevent deadly blazes", Oct 9).
Recent wetter and milder winters have encouraged vegetation growth, while successive governments have pursued policies that have reduced grazing and restricted controlled winter burning. The resulting accumulation of fuel needs urgent attention.
The Moorland Association's modelling estimates that upland vegetation has increased by 1.5 million tonnes since 2005 - equivalent to an extra tonne of potential wildfire fuel every seven minutes for two decades.
As fuel accumulates, fires can become too intense for firefighters to tackle safely. Aircraft and helicopters also have limits. Prevention must therefore include grazing, cutting and controlled winter burning where appropriate.
The Prime Ministers forthcoming wildfire summit should put fuel management firmly on its agenda. This winter offers an opportunity to prepare before next summer's fires. Leaving fuel to accumulate is itself a decision with consequences.
Andrew Gilruth Chief Executive
The Moorland Association
